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Davis took part in the festivities by dressing in Victorian costume and having his picture taken with Father Christmas. On set, he donned a Victorian hat and said the Victorian Village and the Dickens character were "much larger in scope" than he had imagined and he also called the Courthouse light show "spectacular."

"They have a ton of holiday spirit," Davis said of Cambridge and Guernsey County.

He also quoted a publication that proclaimed Cambridge to be the "number one Christmas destination in Ohio"

"Very cool," Davis said, "I tip my hat to all of them."

Both the Dickens characters and the light show play a key role in the seasonal economy of the area.

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"It's a good thing," said Cambridge Main Street Executive Director Donna Hill. "It's a huge hook that brings people here ... not only from around the state, but from around the region. That, along with the courthouse light show, brings people to our downtown."

It's estimated that each "day tripper" will spend an average of $65 at city businesses.

"Those people who come are our ambassadors. They tell their kids and grand kids. Then they come back in the family van," Hill said. "That's when they spend the real money! They're like walking commercials for us."

Aside from the economic boon for area businesses, the shows and displays help preserve the flavor of holidays past, said Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce President Jo Sexton.

"It keeps the old fashion spirit of Christmas, that everyone wants to hold onto, alive," she said, "the warmth of the old fashion holidays alive, the vision of Christmas that we have.